Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Sergeant · U.S. Army

John Kirk

First Sergeant John Kirk, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 12, 1870 at Wichita River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns July 12, 1870

First Sergeant John Kirk was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 12, 1870 at Wichita River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Kirk was 23 years old.

12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 25, 1870. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant Major.

Kirk was born on November 20, 1846 in York, York County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Kirk died on March 2, 1920 in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, at the age of 73. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania.

Kirk is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in action.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. November 20, 1846
    Born in York, York County, Pennsylvania
  2. July 12, 1870
    Act of valor — Wichita River, Texas
    Age 23. Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. August 25, 1870
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 2, 1920
    Died in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
    Age 73.
  5. Resting place
    Mount Olivet Cemetery
    New Cumberland, Pennsylvania

Also honored for actions on July 12, 1870

JC John Connor Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 GE George H. Eldridge Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 JG John J. Given Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 ✦ TK Thomas Kerrigan Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 JM John May Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 SN Solon D. Neal Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 SP Samuel Porter Farrier · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 CS Charles E. Smith Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 AS Alonzo Stokes First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 JW James C. Watson Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 CW Claron Windus Bugler · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 WW William Winterbottom Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Pennsylvania

JW Jacob Widmer First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 JB James Brogan Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 DF Daniel Farren Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JK John Kay Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 WD William Dougherty Blacksmith · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JM John James Mitchell Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.